LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Healthcare in the Tahoe Basin, like many rural areas, can be challenging to navigate. With only a few hospitals in the area and a major move for Barton Hospital slated for the future, Tribune journalist Eli Ramos will be reporting on two articles through a grant from the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Barton Hospital’s move and insurance
In 2024, California’s 2030 seismic regulations were part of what prompted Barton Hospital to consider a move to Nevada. While Barton’s healthcare already spans both sides of the state line, the campuses on the California side are not seismically retrofitted as the building was constructed in 1963 (and expanded in 1992.)
Other reasons for expansion include expanding facilities, the limited space at current facilities and the growing healthcare needs of the community.
The project included the consideration of a sub-healthcare district in Douglas County, Nevada. The new site for the hospital would be where Lakeside Inn and Casino previously stood. While the move has come with its concerns around the location and its height, the Tribune is currently interested in reporting on the impacts the move could have on Medicaid and Medi-Cal patients.
Previously, Barton has said that 90% of plans used by residents have a border provision that allows patients in California to receive care in Nevada, for example. But for those who use Medicaid or Medi-Cal, it may cause more issues, especially for outpatient care across state lines.
In November 2025, Barton paused their environmental impact statement, citing their partnership with Cleveland Clinic and updates to the hospital programming. Since then, the project has not provided any major updates on their webpages or additional information on the dual-campus project.
The Tribune is interested in hearing from people who use Medicaid or Medi-Cal to cover services at Barton Hospital, if they have had difficulty with receiving care because of their insurance and if they have received any information/understanding of how to deal with insurance exemptions.
LGBTQ+ healthcare
In rural communities, healthcare can be sparse—and even moreso for communities that need or want care that recognizes their identities and the different health risks that come with those identities.
LGBTQ+ healthcare outcomes are typically worse than those for cisgender and straight individuals, as they often have less access to healthcare providers who understand their needs and how to address them. It can be challenging to find resources around mental and behavioral health, gender-affirming care or even a provider who understands the medications that can prevent both getting and transmitting HIV.
In a recent Community Engagement and Behavioral Health Report sponsored by the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, LGBTQ+ residents reported higher incidences of poor mental health days, a need for mental health providers and higher rates of substance abuse.
Some people are also seeking healthcare outside of the Tahoe-Truckee area to find LGBTQ+ responsive healthcare. Telehealth options may feel more suited to addressing their needs, or they may drive long distances to find providers that are LGBTQ+ friendly – heading to Sacramento, Reno or even as far as San Francisco or Los Angeles.
The Tribune is interested in hearing from LGBTQ+ people in the Tahoe Basin who are pursuing healthcare that is responsive to their identities, especially those who feel they must leave the Tahoe-Truckee area to find healthcare and those seeking gender-affirming care.
